We’re here to help you find the perfect Labradoodle for your family. From pups to adults, rescues to breeders, “Where Can I Get A Labradoodle?” has all the advice you need to start your Labradoodle search, and find your new friend.
The Best Place To Get A Labradoodle
The ideal place to find your new Labradoodle will depend on your circumstances, and on the type and age of dog you are looking for.In this article we will take a look at the pros and cons of taking on an adult dog vs a puppy. And we’ll summarise the key differences between taking on a rescue dog, and sourcing a dog from a breeder or trainer.
Once you know which combination feels right for you, we’ll look at where best to start your search. We’ll give you tips on how to recognise a good breeder, or a bad one. And questions to ask a rescue shelter before taking on a dog. We’ll give you advice on when to walk away. And encourage you to keep searching for your dream companion. So let’s get started!
Adults vs Puppies
Taking on an adult Labradoodle can be quite different from starting out with a puppy. And your search will look quite different, depending which you would prefer.
If you already know whether a puppy or an older dog is best for your family, you can jump straight to the section on finding your pup, using these links:
- Purchasing a Labradoodle puppy from a breeder
- Looking for a Labradoodle rescue puppy
- Rescuing an adult Labradoodle
- Buying a trained adult Labradoodle
If you’re not sure whether an older Labradoodle or a new puppy is right for you, here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of each option.
Caring For A Doodle Pup
Puppies are very time-consuming! Your new pup will need someone at home with them for at least the first two weeks they are with you. They will need potty training, frequent stimulation and interaction, socialisation, and more. Puppies can only be left alone for very short periods of time during the day.
Despite needing lots of entertaining, they can’t have much formal exercise, as it can hurt their joints. So if you’re dreaming of long walks through the wood with your new friend, that may have to wait.
But puppies are a wonderfully blank slate. You are in control of everything your pup learns about the world and how to behave in it. Making you well placed to get training off to a great start, and prevent bad habits from developing.
Caring For An Adult Rescue Doodle
Because you don’t know a rescue dog’s history in detail, it can be hard to predict whether your rescued friend will have problems such as separation anxiety, or poor training habits such as pulling on the leash, or even absconding altogether.
However, once they’ve settled in to their new home, a well adjusted adult dog doesn’t need attention as frequently as a puppy does, during the day. They still need a good amount of mental and physical stimulation daily, but may be capable of being left to amuse themselves several hours while you work. They can certainly last longer between toilet breaks than a puppy does. And will likely be housetrained.
Size and Coat
In addition to the practicalities above, it’s worth bearing in mind that F1 and F2 Labradoodle pups can grow a little unpredictably!
Because they have one Lab parent and one Poodle parent, first generation Labradoodles can end up anywhere in the range of sizes from the two breeds, and with either coat type, or a mixture. Second generation, F2, pups, can inherit the same wide range of looks.
Adult Labradoodles typically weigh anything from 30 to 80 lbs. And it’s hard to predict the adult height, weight, or coat of an 8 week old Labradoodle pup.
Is having a dog of a specific size, or with a specific coat type, important to you? If so, taking on an adult dog can be a good plan. You’ll be able to see exactly what you’re getting!
Rescue Vs Buying A Labradoodle Pup
In general, new dog owners either find a breeder to purchase a puppy from, or rescue an older dog. However, it is possible to buy an older dog, or to rescue a puppy. If you know the route you’d like to take, you can jump straight to our advice on finding your new friend
- Purchasing a Labradoodle puppy from a breeder
- Looking for a Labradoodle rescue puppy
- Rescuing an adult Labradoodle
- Buying a trained adult Labradoodle
Usually, the difference between rescuing and buying comes down to the difference between getting an adult and a puppy. But there is another factor worth taking into account, and that is cost.
The Cost of Your New Labradoodle
A Labradoodle puppy from a reputable breeder will cost roughly $2000 US. A trained adult dog will be more expensive. But a rescue dog from a shelter can cost as little as a $50 donation. Larger donations often include the cost of microchipping and vaccinations.
Whatever you chose, let’s take a look at where to find your new companion, and how to maximise your chances of picking the right dog for your family. Starting with how to find a puppy from a breeder.
Where Can I Get A Labradoodle Puppy
If you want to find a Labradoodle puppy to buy, the first step is to find a good breeder.
Ideally, you’ll find someone local enough that you can visit in person. So other Labradoodle owners, and your local veterinarian, are both good starting points to ask for recommendations.
If local recommendations don’t work out for you, you’ll need to look for help from Labradoodle organisations. Because they aren’t pure bred, Labradoodles don’t have official breed clubs, linked to national kennel clubs. But there are some organisations that can help.
Finding A Labradoodle Organisation
Australian Labradoodles are multigenerational Labradoodles, bred from a line of Labradoodles. The Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association and the Australian Labradoodle Association of American both maintain lists of breeders, that are either ‘in good standing’ with them or have submitted relevant health and DNA tests.
In the UK you can try the UK Doodle Club and the UK Labradoodle Association. You may even have a local Labradoodle Club in your area, that holds a list of breeders.
However you find your breeder, do bear in mind that there is a limit to how thoroughly most Clubs and Associations are able to check out the people in their breeder directories.
There are some amazing Labradoodle breeders out there, committed to breeding healthy, high welfare, pups. And there are some less experience or less dedicated breeders that you would be better off avoiding. So how do we tell the difference?
Spotting A Good Breeder
A good breeder is open, welcoming and honest. They are happy to have home visits. They have all the relevant paperwork for your pup’s lineage and their parents’ health documents, and can arrange for you to meet your pup’s parents, as well as the puppies.
They will come well recommended, and can provide you with references from other happy clients. The puppies will have been vet checked, and are likely to have microchipped (this is a legal requirement in the UK). They may have had their first vaccinations.
A good breeder will ask you a lot of questions! They will want to know all about your home and lifestyle, to satisfy themselves that you are offering the right environment for their pup to thrive in. They will usually ask for the pup to be returned to them if you find yourself unable to care for them later on.
The Importance of Puppy Health Checks
All breeders should carry out certain health checks on the proposed parents, before breeding them. These check for common inheritable conditions. By only breeding from suitable parents, we give puppies the best possible chance at a healthy life.
When you buy a Labradoodle pup, both parents should have had hip and elbow checks, and a basic eye test. They should have genetic testing for progressive retinal atrophy – an inherited cause of blindness common in both Labs and Poodles.
Labrador parents should also have genetic screening for centronuclear myopathy, exercise-induced collapse, and a form of dwarfism called skeletal dysplasia 2. They should be checked for a knee condition called Patella Luxation, as should Toy Poodle parents.
Standard Poodle parents should be tested for a blood clotting disorder called von Willebrand’s Disease. Mini Poodle parents should be tested for osteochondroplasia, a severe form of dwarfism.
And Labradoodle parents should have all the tests for both breeds. That’s a lot of paperwork for your breeder to show you.
Where Not To Get A Labradoodle Puppy
There are some key warning signs to be aware of when looking for your puppy. One of them is putting off and delaying producing all that health paperwork for you!
Other signs that you might be dealing with a puppy farm, or inexperienced or unscrupulous Labradoodle breeder, are:
- Very low prices
- Puppies living outdoors/not in the main house
- Dirty/smelly puppies or unclean puppy living space
- Parents that can’t be viewed
- Letting puppies leave before 8 weeks old
- Offering you two puppies instead of one
It can be tempting to ‘rescue’ a puppy by buying them from an unscrupulous breeder. However this risks you having to manage an unwell, or even traumatised, puppy for the rest of its life. With all the heartbreak (and financial cost) that goes with it.
And by buying from a puppy mill, you are supporting the owner to go on breeding in this way. The best way to help future pups, is to walk away. And to report the breeder to the relevant authorities.
Your dream puppy is out there – don’t give up looking for a healthy puppy from a good home.
Where Can I Find A Labradoodle Puppy For Adoption
Most dogs available at shelters or rescue organisations will be adult dogs. Puppies are in high demand, and it’s relatively uncommon for young puppies to need rehoming.
However, it does still happen. If you are sure a puppy is right for you, and that you want to go down the rescue route, you’ll need to be patient, and do some legwork.
Register your interest at relevant shelters and organisations. They may have waiting lists you can join. (It’s a courtesy to keep a note of everywhere you’ve registered, and let them know when you find your new pup, so they can take you off their list.)
Shelters and Organisations To Contact
- Local shelters that take all breeds (you may get lucky!)
- Labrador specific rescues
- Poodle specific rescues
- Poodle-mix rescues
- Organizations known for puppy rescue
There are a few organisations that specialise in rehoming Poodle mixes. These include IDOG in the USA, and Doodle Trust in the UK. In addition, Labrador or Poodle specific rescues often also take mix breed dogs that have a Lab or Poodle parent.
And don’t miss out on organizations that specialise in mass rehoming after incidences such as puppy farm closures. These include National Mill Dog Rescue in the USA.
Where Can I Get An Adult Labradoodle
Finding an adult Labradoodle to rescue is easier than finding a puppy, but you may still need to be a little patient, as you have a particular breed in mind.
Start local, if you can. This makes it easier to meet with the shelter, and your prospective pup. And helps if the shelter like to carry out a home visit. If local multi-breed shelters can’t help you, you’ll need to look further afield.
Where To Look For An Adult Labradoodle Rescue Dog
- Local shelters that take all breeds
- Labrador specific rescues
- Poodle specific rescues
- Poodle-mix rescues
What To Expect From A Labradoodle Rescue Organisation
Your rescue organisation will have questions for you. They will want to make sure that your home and lifestyle are suited to an energetic, fairly large, rescue dog.
Do your homework before speaking to them. Be ready to explain why you feel a Labradoodle is the right dog for you. Let them know what experience you have with dogs, and what support you have lined up if you are inexperienced.
They’ll want to know you have space and time for your new friend. Be honest with them. Shelters are highly experienced at placing dogs with new families. If they feel you aren’t right for them, listen, and think about how you might be able to improve your situation to make it more dog-friendly.
Further Reading To Help You Prepare
To help you prepare for your chat with the shelter, you might like to read some of these articles:
- Should I Get A Labradoodle
- How To Exercise A Labradoodle
- Raising A Labradoodle Puppy When You Work Full Time
Questions To Ask The Shelter
Asking “where can I get a Labradoodle” is only the first step in finding your new friend. You also need your Labradoodle to be the right dog for your family. So it’s important not to feel obliged to take on the first dog that’s available.
The following questions can be useful in helping you decide if the dog on offer is the right one for you:
- Why does he need a new home?
- Has he had any training?
- Is he friendly/shy/nervous?
- Have they observed any aggressive or fearful behaviour?
- Has he shown any separation anxiety?
- Is he confident around children?
- Is he house trained?
- Is he happy in the car?
- Does he have any history of absconding (running off and not coming back)?
- Has anything happened in his life that might have left him with trauma?
- Does he have any health problems?
- Does he have any specific dietary needs?
You can probably think of some more questions that are relevant to your own situation. For example if you have mobility issues, it might be very important to you that your dog comes when called, and doesn’t pull on the leash. If you have cats, you’ll want to know your new dog is comfortable around them. And so on.
Of course if you want an adult Labradoodle with a completely known history, the best way to find one is to buy a trained dog.
Where Can I Get A Trained Labradoodle?
There are a few Labradoodle breeders who keep some of their puppies on and train them in basic obedience before selling them. Some will even let you choose your own puppy from a litter, for them to keep and train up.
You’ll need to search pretty widely for a breeder, as this is a much rarer service. This may mean searching online, without personal recommendations.
It’s extra important, therefore, to follow all the guidance above on finding a breeder, and insist on all the same visits, health checks, references etc. You may also like to ask to meet some other dogs they have trained, and see what they can do.
It’s also worth contacting your local or national Labradoodle Association, to see if they recommend anyone who trains and sells adult dogs, or older pups.
Where Can I Get A Mini Labradoodle?
A mini Labradoodle has one Labrador parent and one Toy or Mini Poodle parent. They are smaller than Labradoodles with a Standard Poodle parent. But the way to find a breeder is just the same. Ask for recommendations, try your local or national Labradoodle associations, and follow all our tips for spotting a good breeder.
Where Can I Get A Labradoodle That Won’t Trigger My Allergies
You may have heard that Poodles are hypoallergenic, and that Labradoodles can inherit the same coat.
However, this is a bit of an oversimplification. All dogs shed dander, which can trigger allergies in susceptible people. The tight curly Poodle coat catches that dander, so they are low shedding. In some people that can reduce allergies, compared to a dog with a more open coat. But it’s not a guarantee.
In addition, not all Labradoodle pups inherit a Poodle-type coat. And adult coat type can be hard to predict when looking at a Labradoodle puppy. So to maximise your chances of getting a dog with a low shedding coat, you will probably be best off looking at adult dogs, such as rescue dogs, who already have their adult coat.
Ideally, if you have allergies to dog dander, you’ll want to visit the dog you are thinking of taking on, and see how you get on during and after spending time with them. If your allergies are severe, we’d recommend discussing this plan with your doctor first.
If the first dog you visit isn’t right for your allergies, don’t despair. All coats are a little different, and your new friend could still be out there, waiting for you to find them.
Where Can I Get A Labradoodle Dog That’s Right For Me
Hopefully we’ve given you some useful ideas, to help you start your Labradoodle search. That search will look a little different depending on whether you want a puppy or an older dog, and whether you want to find a breeder or use a rescue organisation. But the principles are the same.
Look locally first. Talk to your vet, and to friends with Labradoodles. Make sure you are comfortable with the person and place supplying your dog. Ask for references and health paperwork. Listen if you’re asked to make changes to your home or lifestyle to accommodate your new friend. Walk away if you aren’t happy, or don’t feel ready.
And be willing to persist. The perfect Labradoodle for your family could be out there right now, waiting for you to find them.
Good luck with your search!
Useful Links
People who are searching for a Labradoodle often find these resources helpful.